Distributor stabilizer



June 9, 1953 J. A. M KENNA DISTRIBUTOR STABILIZER Filed Aug. 17, 1951 7@1 Mia INVENTOR JAME5 A. MKEAlA/A 57 BY 1 58 115k 7. 5% 777% Z;

A T TOKNE Y5,

Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a device for stabilizing the circuit breakersupporting plate in a conventional internal combustion enginedistributor. More particularly the invention relates to a device forpreventing tilting of the circuit breaker supporting plate with respectto the fixed plate on which the circuit breaker supporting plate isslidably secured.

The circuit breaker supporting plate in the distributor of modernautomobiles is slidably supported on a fixed plate for oscillatorymovement so that the firing time of the engine may be automaticallyadjusted to suit the speed of the engine. In earlier designs the circuitbreaker supporting plate was customarily supported for oscillation withrespect to the housing of the distributor by means of a plurality ofballs carried by said plate and which balls were received within a racein the distributor housing. This older structure has been abandoned inmany automobiles of more recent design for the type in which the circuitbreaker supporting plate is slidably supported on a fixed plate and itis only to distributors of this latter type that the present inventionis applicable.

This later type of distributor has the advantage of being relativelyinexpensive, but an important disadvantage lies in the fact that ittends to become unstable, especially after the automobile has been inuse for several hundred miles. This instability is due to the fact thatthe movable plate tends to tilt with respect to the fixed plate therebycausing the cam dwell angle to vary to a considerable degree resultingin uneven timing and a loss of power.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to overcome theobjections inherent in distributors having a movable circuit breakersupporting plate slidably supported on a fixed plate.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which maybe readily mounted in the distributor without modification of the latterin any respect.

still another object of the invention is the provision of a device forpreventing tilting of the circuit breaker supporting plate and whichdevice may be readily adjusted to obtain optimum performance of thedistributor.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingspecification and from the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a distributor with its cap removed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a distributor similar to Fig. l, but withvacuum link, condenser and breaker points removed to show the structureof the movable circuit breaker supporting plate and also showing theinvention in position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view partly in elevation throughthe distributor of Fig. 2 as taken generally along lines 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic elevational view of the cam, movable plate and camfollower illustrating the effect of tilting on the timing Of the engine.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the periphery of thedistributor as taken generally along lines 55 of Fig. 2 and showing theinvention in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the distributor atright angles to Fig. 5 showing the invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the invention with attaching screw andnut removed.

In detail, the distributor comprises a housing, generally designated Ihaving cylindrical sidewalls 2 and a movable circuit breaker supportingplate 3 disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of housing I andslidably supported on a fixed plate 4 which is secured at spaced pointsaround its periphery to the housing I (Fig. 3).

While the distributor is conventional, a clear understanding of thepresent invention requires a brief description of the same.

A cam shaft 6 projects upwardly through the distributor plates 3, 4centrally of the latter and said cam shaft 6 is rotatably supported inbearings (not shown) spaced below plates 3, 4. A six cylinder cam shaft6 is illustrated having a hexagonal cross-sectional cam I, but it willbe obvious that no essential difference will exist in engines having agreater number of cylin ders.

The rises 8 of cam l are adapted to successively engage a cam follower 9carried by an arm II] which is pivotally supported at one end on a postH and which arm carries at its other end a contact l2. Also supported onmovable plate 3 is a plate 13 which carries a fixed contact I4 adaptedto be engaged by contact l2 when the cam follower 9 is on a dwell l5 ofthe cam I. When the cam follower 9 is on a rise 8 of cam as shown inFig. 1, the contacts l2, I4 are separated.

Also secured to movable plate 4 is one end of the conventional link I6which is connected at its other end to a source of vacuum (not shown)for oscillating movable plate 4 to advance or retard the spark. The linkI6 is pivotally secured to the plate 4 by pivot I7 and screw I8 (Figs.1, 2).

The condenser 20 is stationarily secured to the movable plate 3 by screw2| which is received in a threaded hole 22 in plate 3. For the purposeof adjusting the position of contact 2 with respect to contact I4 aneccentric screw 25 is provided in plate [3 which cooperates with a slot25 in breaker .plate ('3. The plate l3 may be firmly fixed inthe'desired position by screw 2'l'which is threadeclly received in hole28 in movable plate 3. The arm l carrying the movable contact 9 "isyieldably urged toward cam l at all times by flat spring 29.

The fixed plate 4 on which themovable-plate't is slidably supported isprovided-with threeaxially extending lugs 30, SI, 32 (Figs. 1, 2) forsecuring said plate to the walls 2 of the distributor. These lugs arethreadedly apertured at points spaced above: the movable-plate '3 forreceiving screws :33

whiclrare passed through suitable :holesin-wallsi2 The movable plate3iis1provided atsp'aced points around its periphery with spacers "35which serve to1 space the :movablezplate 3 from fixed plate 4 Band-Whichalso serve to sslidably support :said

movable plate. These aspacers e35aare :p'rovided witha reduced: diameter:portion 3 6 "which .passes through atcorresponding "hole in platec3 and.is

:rigidly secured :th'erein by crimping the adjacent material around saidhole. As best seen in.Figs.

2,33 :spacers 351=slidably :support plate 3 at threespaced:pointstaround'th'eJperiphery of the latter.

Plates 3-"and'tare-centrally provided with a relatively large hole forreceiving :-a sleeve :38

which is. rigidly secured to plate 3 by: flange 39 which is crimpedagainstthe' walls of thehole in plate 3 as best seen in Fig. 3. Attheiside of sleeve 38 opposite the flange '39 'is a peripherally extendingslot 4'3 "for receiving an annular spring retainer 41 :for engagingfixedplate fl for preventing lateral-shifting of-plate 3 relative toplate-4.

.Also carried bymovable plate 3 is "a post 42 whichisrigidly'secured atits upper end to plate 3 and which 'passes through a slot 43 in fixedplate 4. "Aperiphera'lly extending slot isprovided inirpost '42 adjacentits lower end for'receiving a retainer clip 44 and a spring washer l5-isinterposed between said retainer" and fixed plate 4 for yiel'dablyurging movable -plate3 toward fixed plate 4. Washers' Mi, 4'! arepositioned on opposite sidesof spring'washer lli From' theabove"described structure, it will "be apparent-{thatmovement of themovable plate '3 upwardly in a direction away from fixed plate 4ispreverited only by the central sleeve 38 and post- A2. -In'-ac'tualuse'theplate-Btends to tilt with respect to-plate'li with the spacer3'5'which is a'djacent ear- 30 as a pivot. This tilting of movable plate3 may be caused by shocks transferred tothebodythroug'hthe wheels of theautomobile :or may 'be'caused'by the rapid impacts resulting from .theengagement between the cam"! and the cam follower 9. It has beenalsoobserved that .thecam followeri9'will tend to rise upwardlyalong cam 1when the'spee'd ofithe engine is increased from a low to a highspeed.This action of the cam follower tends-to "pull the'p1ate 3 upwardly.-Whatever factors are involved inthe tilting of movable plate 3 withrespect to'fixe'd plate 4,the result is undesirable. As best seen inthediagrammaticview of Fig. 4;when the plate'3 moves upwardly fromthe'full line position to the dotted lineposition it isapparent that thecam follower moves ;.inwardly to'lthe dotted line position.

The invention comprises a relatively light retainer or support generallydesignated 49. This retainer comprises a channel having a web 5i and apair of legs 52, 53. The web 5| is preferably just slightly wider thanthe width of ears :33, ;ill,w32zof-fixed plate 4 so that the channel maybe positioned against the radially inwardly facing sides of the earswith the legs 52, 53 alongside .the Side edges of said ears (Figs. 5,6).

A slot'54 (Fig.7) is formed in web 5| so that a screw '55 may be passedthrough said slot and also through the ear of the fixed plate and the-Wa1l 2 of -.the;distributor. .Aloclrwasher 56:.may then be placed overthe-shank of .screw 55 and the channel 5!! firmly secured :to Tthe ear.:of the distributor 'by nut 57.

*Integral with the web 5 iof channelfi'll is a latrerally'extendingportion'58 which is connected to web 15'! adjacent'the lower edgeofthelatter. This portion 58 is tapered inwardly sin adirecti'onaway'from-web 5i and is provided witha downwardly opening recess .ordimple :59 which is adapted to receive "a portion of a ball fill (Figs.'5, 6). This'ball {it is adapted to engagezthe upper side of movableplate 3 when the channel-'50 is secured to'an ear of theifixediplate l.'The'pressure between the 'ball :Btland'the upper side of .plate 3 ispreferably verylight andit is not necessary that said ballrevolvein use.The advantage ofia .ballris that a :good point icontactis obtained:between'ball and plate and thereziscpractically no resistance createdto oscillation ofthe movable plate. Slot "54in web '5! permits thechanne'lTaD to be adjusted to various distances from fixed plate 4before said channel is secured.

It will be *noted'that the ball '60 engagestthe movable plate 3'adjacentthe periphery of the latter and 'for this reason.maximumstability isachieved. In this'connectionitwillbe apparent that sleeve .38, being:close .to' the center of the plate has little eifect in preventing theundesirable tilting'and the post 32, although further from the center'ofthe plate, isonly efiective at onejpoint.

In'Fig. 2 only two supports are shown and these are installed on ears3!, '32 of'the fixed plate i. In practice only 'theseitwo supports areessential because the post' i2'is ellective to hold down the portion'ofthe'plate adjacent ear 38. However a support'may be installed on ear atif desired-it being seen from Fig. 2 thatsufiicient clearance existsbetween the reduced portion 355 of bearing spacer :35 and'theperipheryof the plate'to accommodate'ball fit). The size ofball 'tll need notexceed .010 inch.

From the above description, it will 'be apparent that the invention isreadily instal-led on a conventional distributor. All'that' is necessaryis to remove screws' 33 which secure the ears 3|, 32 'to the-cylindricalwall 2 ofthehousingl and replace them with screws 55 and secure theretainers or supports 49 to the ears by-washer 56 andmut 51.

I claim:

"1.' In 'a' distributor for an internal" combustion engine including ahousing having cylindrical walls and 'a 'mova-ble circuit breakersupportplate mounted in said housing for oscillatory movement about the is ofthe latter and including a fixed plate secured to said housingtransversely of said axis and slidably supporting said movable plate, adevice for preventing tilting of said movable plate with respect to saidfixed plate comprising: a support adapted to be secured to said fixedplate adjacent its periphery and a bearing element carried by saidsupport and adapted to engage a portion of said movable plate adjacentits periphery and on the side of the latter opposite said fixed platefor preventing tilting of said portion away from said fixed plate.

2. In a distributor for an internal combustion engine including ahousing having cylindrical walls and a movable circuit breaker supportplate mounted in said housing for oscillatory movement about the axis ofthe latter and including a fixed plate secured to said housingtransversely of said axis and slidably supporting said movable plate, adevice for preventing tilting of said movable plate with respect to saidfixed plate comprising: a support adapted to be secured to said fixedplate adjacent its periphery and a bearing element carried by saidsupport and adapted to engage a portion of said movable plate adjacentits periphery and on the side of the latter opposite said fixed platefor preventing tilting of said portion away from said fixed plate, saidbearing element comprising a ball, and a seat on said support adapted toreceive said ball.

3. In a distributor for an internal combustion engine including ahousing having cylindrical walls and a movable circuit breaker supportplate mounted in said housing for oscillatory movement about the axis ofsaid housing and including a fixed plate secured to said housing in aplane perpendicular to the axis of said housing and slidably supportingsaid movable plate, said fixed plate having axially outwardly extendingears at spaced points around its periphery for securing said plate tosaid housing, a device for preventing tilting of said movable plate withrespect to said fixed plate comprising: a support adapted to be securedto one of said ears and a bearing element carried by said support andadapted to engage a portion of said movable plate for preventingmovement of said portion away from said fixed plate.

4. In a distributor for an internal combustion engine including ahousing having cylindrical walls and a movable circuit breaker supportplate mounted in said housing for oscillatory movement about the axis ofsaid housing and including a fixed plate secured to said housing in aplane perpendicular to the axis of said housing and slidably supportingsaid movable plate, said fixed plate having axially outwardly extendingears at spaced points around its periphery for securing said plate tosaid housing, a device for preventing tilting of said movable plate withrespect to said fixed plate comprising: a support adapted to be securedto one of said ears and a bearing element carried by said support andadapted to engage a portion of said movable plate for preventingmovement of said portion away from said fixed plate, means on said.support for securing the same to said ear at various distances from saidfixed plate.

5. In a distributor for an internal combustion engine including ahousing having cylindrical walls and a movable circuit breaker supportplate mounted in said housing for oscillatory movement about the axis ofsaid housing and including a fixed plate secured to said housing in aplane perpendicular to the axis of said housing and slidably supportingsaid movable plate, said fixed plate having axially outwardly extendingears at spaced points around its periphery for curing said plate to saidhousing, a stabilizer for said movable plate comprising: a plurality ofsupports adapted to be respectively secured to said ears, means on saidsupports for adjustably securing the same to said ears at variousdistances from said fixed plate and bearing elements respectivelycarried by said supports for engaging said movable plate to preventtilting of the latter relative to said fixed plate.

c lee- JAMES A. MCKENNA.

Name Date Fitzsimmons May 24, 1949 Number

